PRINCIPAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SPECIALIST

Code: 02785@ Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction in an assigned geographical area, organizes and coordinates specific projects and activities involving the citizen participation network in achieving the community's development goals; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Plans community activities around a specific goal or project; for example, citizen monitoring of fire hydrants in summer to maintain water pressure.
• May be assigned to handle multiple projects at a given time.
• Helps coordinate activities of the citywide network of block clubs and tenant associations.
• Attends community meetings to educate and involve residents in a given activity.
• Meets with representatives of other departments, agencies, and nongovernment organizations in relation to the implementation of a given activity; for example, organizing of citizen patrols would require cooperation with the police department, and a citywide blood pressure screening campaign would require working with the health department and hospitals.
• Gives leadership, direction, and technical assistance to community organization specialists in various areas in relation to a given activity.
• Performs research necessary to plan and implement an assigned activity.
• Gathers and analyzes data including conducting surveys.
• Writes informational, educational, and motivational material and reports.
• Drafts proposals including budgets.
• Helps develop citizen participation mechanisms for funded programs in accord with requirements of funding source and agency including conducting elections and giving leadership and direction to community organization specialists involved in this activity.
• Serves in liaison capacity to various citizen boards and advisory boards.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in organizing various groups of people in such fields as trades unionism, community organization, political action, or fund raising.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of community residents and characteristics of the area after a period of training.
• Knowledge of governmental and nongovernmental services and programs throughout the community after a period of training.
• Knowledge of state and federally funded programs and resources after a period of training.
• Ability to prepare informational and motivational material, reports, and other documents of moderate difficulty.
• Ability to organize assigned field and office work, analyze problems arising therein, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to establish and maintain liaison with representatives of various public, private, civic, neighborhood, and religious groups within the jurisdiction.
• Ability to work with community leaders to institute, evaluate, revise, and/or clarify programs.
• Ability to plan and coordinate activities and a citywide basis.
• Ability to recognize developing problems, plan preventive action, and conceptualize strategy.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Applicants who do not possess the required experience may substitute college level credits from an accredited college or university on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one year of experience.